Sectional serpentine dispensing column having means preventing article jamming

ABSTRACT

A sectional, double-depth serpentine column for a dispensing or vending machine has a pair of spaced vertical walls provided with inclined rails on their inner surfaces arranged to support the ends of cylindrical articles, such as canned beverages, in a serpentine stack for gravitational movement in unison as individual articles are delivered from the bottom of the column. Inwardly projecting, narrow beads on the inner wall surfaces extend in the direction of inclination of the respective rails and are spaced thereabove less than one-half the diameter of the articles for engagement by the ends of the articles below the center thereof in order to prevent such ends from contacting the wall surfaces and to provide minimum resistance to rotation of the articles as they engage the beads during downward travel. The column is a sectional assembly comprising an uppermost, a lowermost, and one or more intermediate sections, each of the three types of sections having different wall, rail and bead configurations designed to permit the number of intermediate sections to be varied in accordance with the desired article capacity, or permit complete elimination of intermediate sections if it is desired to provide a shorter column of reduced article capacity.

United States Patent Baxendale 51 May 16,1972

1541 SECTIONAL SERPENTINE DISPENSING COLUMN HAVING MEANS PREVENTINGARTICLE JAMMING [72] Inventor: John W. Baxendale, Kansas City, Mo.

[73] Assignee: The Vendo Company, Kansas City, Mo.

[22] Filed: Apr. 24, 1970 [21] Appl. No.: 31,605

[52] U.S.Cl ..2ll/49 [51] Int. Cl. ..A47f 7/00 {58] FieldofSearch..21l/49;221/116, 150,312, 221/92 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 3,393,808 7/1968 Chirchill 2l l/49 3,085,712 4/1963Skumawitz..... 221/312 X 2,969,152 1/1961 l-lennion ..21l/49 3,055,2939/1962 Lariccia..... 211/49 X 3,286,846 11/1966 Brandes ..211/493,379,294 4/1968 Van Liew... 221/312 X 3,404,927 10/1968 Mellion i..211/49 X 3,477,774 ll/l969 Atwood ..2l1/49 X Primary Examiner-Nile C.Byers, .lr. Attorney-Schmidt, Johnson, l-lovey & Williams [5 7] ABSTRACTA sectional, double-depth serpentine column for a dispensing or vendingmachine has a pair of spaced vertical walls provided with inclined railson their inner surfaces arranged to support the ends of cylindricalarticles, such as canned beverages, in a serpentine stack forgravitational movement in unison as individual articles are deliveredfrom the bottom of the column. lnwardly projecting, narrow beads on theinner wall surfaces extend in the direction of inclination of therespective rails and are spaced thereabove less than one-half thediameter of the articles for engagement by the ends of the articlesbelow the center thereof in order to prevent such ends from contactingthe wall surfaces and to provide minimum resistance to rotation of thearticles as they engage the beads during downward travel. The column isa sectional assembly comprising an uppermost, a lowermost, and one ormore intermediate sections, each of the three types of sections havingdifferent wall, rail and bead configurations designed to permit thenumber of intermediate sections to be varied in accordance with thedesired article capacity, or permit complete elimination of intermediatesections if it is desired to provide a shorter column of reduced articlecapacity.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEBMM 16 I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVEN'IUR.John W. Baxendo/e ATTORNEYS.

PATENTEDMAY 16 I972 3.662 898 SHEEI 2 [IF 2 mvEN-mR John W. BaxendoleATTORNEYS.

SECTIONAL SERPENTINE DISPENSING COLUMN HAVING MEANS PREVENTING ARTICLEJAMMING This invention relates to improvements in serpentine columndispensing or vending machines of the general type shown and describedin US. Pat. No. 3,498,497, granted Mar. 3, 1970, and owned by theassignee herein.

The primary object of the invention is to provide an articlereceiving,serpentine column wherein such column comprises a sectional assemblyhaving an uppermost, a lowermost, and one or more intermediate sectionsdesigned to permit the intermediate sections to be varied in number orentirely eliminated from the assembly in accordance with the desiredarticle capacity.

Another object of the invention is to provide an articlereceiving columnas above, wherein free movement of the articles along the serpentinepath that continues through the various sections of the assembly isassured by preventing article contact with the inner wall surfaces ofthe sections. In the drawings:

FIG. I is a fragmentary, front elevational view of the column assemblyshown within the cabinet of a vending machine, such cabinet being brokenaway in the illustration;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of one of the column partitrons;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, enlarged, side elevational view of a portion ofthe partition of FIG. 2, showing the rails and an associated bead with acan resting on the lower rail;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG.2, on the same scale as FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.2;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged view looking in the direction of thearrows associated with the line 66 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, enlarged view looking in the direction of thearrows associated with the line 7-7 of FIG. 2.

With particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 the insulated cabinet 10 of avending machine is shown in FIG. 1 housing a sectional,article-receiving column assembly 12 which consists of a number ofside-by-side, serpentine columns 14, all of which are functionallyidentical. In FIG. 2, it may be seen that each of the columns 14 is adouble-depth structure of serpentine configuration, cylindrical articlesA such as canned beverages being illustrated therein.

An article delivery station 16 is presented at the bottom of each of thecolumns 14, the lowermost articles A in FIG. 2 being shown held by apair of article delivery units 18 which are illustrated in partiallydiagrammatic form. Each of the units 18 is of the paddle wheel releasetype, one of the paddle members 20 of the paddle wheel being shownholding the adjacent article A against gravitation from the deliverystation 16. The actuating arm 22 of the sold-out switch (not shown) ofthe lower unit 18 is shown released since the rear track of thedouble-depth column 14 is depleted except for the single article A.Since the front track is partially stocked, the soldout switch actuatingarm 22 of the upper unit 18 is held in a retracted position by thepresence of the adjacent article A. The delivery units 18 may beselectively operated by suitable coin controlled means as is well knownin the vending machine art.

As is clear in FIG. 1, the column assembly 12 includes a plurality ofupright partitions 24 which define the columns 14 of the assembly 12between the two end columns 14 thereof. The left end column 14 is shownin FIG. 1 and is defined by an upright end wall member 26 and theadjacent partition 24. In FIG. 1 the delivery units for the secondcolumn 14 are removed for clarity.

The various columns 14 of the assembly 12 are of sectional constructionas is best understood from viewing the partition 24 illustrated in FIG.2. The partition 24 comprises an uppermost wall 28, an intermediate wall30, and a lowermost wall 32 joined together to form the compositepartition 24. The uppermost wall 28 is shown in detail in thecross-sectional view of FIG. 4, where it may be seen that the wall 28presents a pair of opposed, vertical, major surfaces 34 which extendupwardly from a pair of integral rails 36, one of which is shownsupporting the rim of a can A. Thus, it may be appreciated that each ofthe surfaces 34 is an inner surface of a respective column 1.4 sinceeach of the partitions 24 is common to two adjacent columns 14.

A pair of opposed rails 38 are also integral with the uppermost wall 28and project therefrom in vertically spaced relationship to the lowerrails 36. Viewing FIG. 1, the upper rails 38, in cooperation withhorizontally aligned rails 38 of adjacent partitions 24 (or an adjacentpartition 24 and an adjacent end member 26), define an inclined portionof the rear serpentine tracks of two adjacent columns 14. Accordingly.the lower rails 36 shown in FIG. 4 similarly cooperate withcorresponding rails 36 to define an inclined portion of the frontserpentine tracks of the two adjacent columns 14. A pair of verticallyspaced loading openings 40 (designated in FIG. 2) are provided above theinclined rails 38 and the inclined rails 36 of each column 14 to permitthe tracks thereof to be stocked with the articles or cans A.

Referring to FIG. 2 and following the front serpentine track from thetop of the partition 24 to the delivery station 16 at the bottomthereof, an inclined rail 42 is spaced below the lower end of the rail36 and is inclined in the opposite direction, an inclined rail 44 isspaced below the rail 42 and is inclined in the direction of the rail36, an inclined rail 46 is spaced below the rail 44 and is inclined inthe same direction as the rail 42, an inclined rail 48 below the rail 46again reverses the direction of inclination, and finally an inclinedrail 50 beneath the rail 48 terminates at the delivery station 16.Similarly, for the rear serpentine track, rails 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60are arranged in succession beneath the rail 38 with adjacent railsoppositely inclined.

Looking again at the top of the tracks, the rails 38 and 42 arepresented by a continuous, integral flange in order to guide thearticles around the first bend in the front track at the upper end ofthe serpentine. This continuous flange continues downwardly half of thevertical distance through the next bend and terminates at the lower edge62 of the uppermost wall 28. The edge 62 abuts the upper edge of theintermediate wall 30, the aforesaid flange being aligned with acontinuous flange integral with the wall 30 which presents the rails 54and 46. The lower edge 64 of the intermediate wall 30, in turn, abutsthe upper edge of the lowermost wall 32, the flange defining the rails54 and 46 being aligned with a continuous flange integral with thelowermost wall 32 which presents the rails 58 and 50. It may beappreciated, therefore, that the three successive integral flanges justdiscussed separate the front and rear tracks of the column throughoutthe length thereof. Furthermore, FIG. 2 reveals that the front and rearmargins of the walls 28, 30 and 32 are also formed with integral flangesto contain the articles within the tracks as well as present the rails36, 52, 44, 56, 48 and 60. Accordingly, the various walls of thepartitions 24 may advantageously be diecast with a multitude of circularopenings 66 through the walls to decrease the weight of the structure,effect a saving in material, and facilitate the circulation ofrefrigerated air around the articles A. It is to be understood that theend member 26 is identical to each of the partitions 24 except that theflanges project from only one side of the uppermost, intermediate, andlowermost walls 280, 30a and 32a thereof.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, the wall 28 has a pair ofintegral beads 68 projecting from its surfaces 34 and spaced equaldistances from the respective rails 36. Each of the beads 68 istransversely narrow and extends longitudinally in parallelism with therail 36 therebeneath. Similarly, the upper edge of the wall 28 in theregion of the section line 44 in FIG. 2 terminates in a pair of opposed,narrow beads 70 spaced equal distances above respective rails 38, eachof the beads 70 extending longitudinally in parallelism with the rail 38therebeneath. As is clear in FIG. 3, the spacing of the beads above therails therebeneath is less than one-half of the diameter of the articleor can A. i

Referring to the front track of the partition 24 shown in FIG. 2, asecond bead 68a on the wall 28 is disposed above the rail 42 in the samemanner as discussed above; accordingly, beads 68b, 68c, 68d and 68e arelikewise located above the rails 44, 46, 48 and 50 respectively. Thevarious beads are interconnected by straight and arcuate integral beadsegments between the adjacent rails at the bends in the serpentinetrack, and thus the beads and interconnecting segments are in the natureof an elongated continuous projection on the surfaces of the walls 28,30 and 32 except, of course, for discontinuities at the lower edges 62and 64 of the walls 28 and 30 caused by the sectional wall construction.In like fashion, beads 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d and 70e are spaced above therails 52, 54, 56, 58 and 60 respectively of the rear serpentine trackand are interconnected by straight and arcuate integral segments at thebends in the serpentine path.

The various partitions 24 and end members 26 are secured together andheld in proper spaced relationship through the use of vertically spaced,horizontal cross rods 72 which extend through tabs 74 and webs 75integral with the wall sections of the partitions 24 and end members 26.Proper spacing is assured by spacer sleeves 76 telescoped over the rods72 which abut the tabs 74 or webs 75, as is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and6. An upper support bracket 78 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and is securedto the cabinet (FIG. 1), the bracket 78 receiving two of the rods 72 andassociated spacers 76 that are adjacent the top of the column assembly12. A lower support bracket 80 is secured to the column assembly 12 andextends downwardly therebeneath, the bracket 80 being slotted at 82 toreceive a support rod 84 rigidly secured to the cabinet 10.

From the foregoing, it may be appreciated that each of the columns 14 asillustrated comprises an uppermost, an intermediate, and a lowermostcolumn section. With reference to the second column 14 in FIG. 1 forexample, the uppermost section thereof is defined by the walls 28 of thetwo partitions 24, the intermediate section is defined by the walls 30of the partitions 24, and the lowermost section is defined by the walls32 of the partitions 24. The significance of this may be appreciatedfrom viewing the partition 24 in FIG. 2 where it may be seen that thetwo article exits at the lower edge 62 of the wall 28 are in registerwith the two article entrances at the abutting upper edge of the wall30; likewise, the two article exits at the lower edge 64 of the wall 30are in register with the two article entrances at the abutting upperedge of the wall 32. Furthermore, the entrances at the upper edge of thewall 32 are in vertical alignment with the exits at the lower edge 62 ofthe wall 28; therefore, any practical number of intermediate walls 30could be added to the partition 24 to increase the capacity of thecolumn. Alternatively, if a shorter column of reduced capacity isdesired, the intermediate wall 30 may be completely eliminated and theuppermost and lowermost walls 28 and 32 brought together and mountedwith their. exits and entrances in register. In this manner, theflexibility of modulized construction is provided so that the columnconstruction of the present invention may be adapted to vending machineshaving various article capacity requirements.

In operation, as the stacks of articles gravitate downwardly through thecolumns in response to actuation of the delivery units 18, an importantaction is obtained by virtue of the provision of the beads 68 and 70 oneach of the wall surfaces of each of the columns. Referring for exampleto FIGS. 3 and 4 where one of the beads 68 is shown in relationship to acan A illustrated in phantom lines, it may be seen that the end of thecan A is prevented from contacting the adjacent wall surface 34. Notethat the rim of the can A rests on the inclined rail 36 but that theinwardly projecting bead 68 positively precludes contact of the end ofthe can A with any part of the surface 34. Accordingly, the onlysignificant contact of the can A with the column is the engagement ofthe rims with the underlying rails 36, thereby minimizing thepossibility of a jam condition occurring.

Furthermore, the beads 68 are spaced above the rails 36 a distance lessthan one-half the diameter of the can A, and thus are below the centerof the can A. Viewing FIG. 3, it may be appreciated that if the bead 68there shown were disposed above the center of the can A, the moment armfrom the point of engagement of the forward edge of the rim of the can Aand the bead 68 to the point of tangency of the can A with the rail 36could cause a significant clockwise moment to be developed tending toresist the normal counterclockwise rotation of the can A down the rail36. However, the disposition of the bead 68 below the center asillustrated in FIG. 3 locates the moment arm such that the momentcreated is substantially reduced, thus the bead 68 provides minimumresistance to the normal rotation of the can A down the inclined rail36. Additionally, the openings 66 in the column walls inherently definecircular edges at the wall surfaces which, if the ends of the cans Awere not held out of contact with the surfaces, could induce sufficientdrag to cause the cans A to jam in the track.

It should be understood that the spacing between opposed beads of agiven column is slightly greater than the length of the individual cansA in order to prevent binding from occurring. Therefore, the ends of thecans, as the latter traverse a given stretch of a track, will engagefirst one bead and then the other as they progress downwardly throughthe column.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In an article dispensing machine:

a sectional column assembly of selectively predeterminable capacity forsupporting a stack of generally cylindrical articles for gravitationalmovement in unison downwardly through the assembly along a continuousserpentine path,

said assembly having a selectable plurality of vertically stackablesections including at least an uppermost section provided with a loadingopening for receiving articles, and a lowermost section provided with anarticle delivery outlet opening,

each of said sections including a pair of spaced, upright walls, andinwardly projecting, inclined rail structures on said walls forsupporting opposed end portions of articles received between the wallsand for defining and guiding said articles along the portion of saidpath presented by that section,

each of said sections other than said uppermost section having anarticle entrance disposed in predetermined position along the upperextremity thereof,

each of said sections other than said lowermost section having anarticle exit disposed in predetermined position along the lowerextremity thereof,

said positions of said exits and entrances all being located in verticalalignment with each other, when said sections are in vertically stackedrelationship, for registration of said exits and said entrances ofvertically adjacent sections to continue said path; and

means for supporting a selected plurality of said sections in saidvertically stacked relationship thereof.

2. In a machine as one in claim 1, wherein said sections include atleast one capacity increasing, intermediate section disposed betweensaid uppermost section and said lowermost section when the sections arein said vertically stacked relationship thereof.

3. In a machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said path portion withineach section reverses direction within that section.

4. In a machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein is provided an inwardlyprojecting, narrow, elongated bead on the inner surface of each of saidwalls of each of said sections extending along the corresponding of saidpath portions, said beads being located for engagement by respectiveends of the articles to provide a low-friction guide for the ends of thearticles and to prevent contact of said ends with the inner surfaces ofsaid walls as the articles travel downwardly along said path.

5. In a machine as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said exits andentrances contains a corresponding end of said beads of thecorresponding section, and said thus contained bead ends are all locatedin vertical alignment with each other, when said sections are in saidvertically stacked relationship,

for registration of said bead ends of vertically adjacent sections tocontinue said beads along said path.

1. In an article dispensing machine: a sectional column assembly ofselectively predeterminable capacity for supporting a stack of generallycylindrical articles for gravitational movement in unison downwardlythrough the assembly along a continuous serpentine path, said assemblyhaving a selectable plurality of vertically stackable sections includingat least an uppermost section provided with a loading opening forreceiving articles, and a lowermost section provided with an articledelivery outlet opening, each of said sections including a pair ofspaced, upright walls, and inwardly projecting, inclined rail structureson said walls for supporting opposed end portions of articles receivedbetween the walls and for defining and guiding said articles along theportion of said path presented by that section, each of said sectionsother than said uppermost section having an article entrance disposed inpredetermined position along the upper extremity thereof, each of saidsections other than said lowermost section having an article exitdisposed in predetermined position along the lower extremity thereof,said positions of said exits and entrances all being located in verticalalignment with each other, when said sections are in vertically stackedrelationship, for registration of said exits and said entrances ofvertically adjacent sections to continue said path; and means forsupporting a selected plurality of said sections in said verticallystacked relationship thereof.
 2. In a machine as one in claim 1, whereinsaid sections include at least one capacity increasing, intermediatesection disposed between said uppermost section and said lowermostsection when the sections are in said vertically stacked relationshipthereof.
 3. In a machine as claimed in claim 2, wherein said pathportion within each section reverses direction within that section. 4.In a machine as claimed in claim 1, wherein is provided an inwardlyprojecting, narrow, elongated bead on the inner surface of each of saidwalls of each of said sections extending along the corresponding of saidpath portions, said beads being located for engagement by respectiveends of the articles to provide a low-friction guide for the ends of thearticles and to prevent contact of said ends with the inner surfaces ofsaid walls as the articles travel downwardly along said path.
 5. In amachine as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said exits and entrancescontains a corresponding end of said beads of the corresponding section,and said thus contained bead ends are all located in vertical alignmentwith each other, when said sections are in said vertically stackedrelationship, for registration of said bead ends of vertically adjacentsections to continue said beads along said path.